Would you keep a cheap guitar because of the neck shape?

NotveryGood · #1 09-24-2021, 12:42 AM

Following on from the thread about moving on nice guitars because we didn't like the neck shape, what about the opposite? Would you keep a cheap guitar because of the playability?
I have a Sigma, (bought as a stop-gap beater for crowded pubs). It doesn't produce a great tone. Compared with my other guitars, it sounds a bit dull ,as if it has old strings on it. No surprise there , it was by far the cheapest and isn't all solid. I loaned it to a friend who was starting out, and when it came back I intended to move it on permanently. Yet the neck is very comfortable, chords and runs fall easily to hand and I find myself picking it up and enjoying it the most. It might yet stay.

hatamoto · #2 09-24-2021, 01:04 AM

Definitely. If it plays well, it can serve as a beater when you're out or gigging or even your main.
Personally, if a guitar plays well in my hands, I will see it as double the price. Likewise, it can go the other way around. I recently tried out some guitars that I was eyeing for a long time and I was utterly disappointed. These guitars were in the $1500 price range and after testing it, I now see it as "cheap" because of how it played.

Feel definitely adds to the value.

Malcolm Kindnes · #3 09-24-2021, 03:36 AM

Definitely, I have two Recording King guitars, one solid and one laminate, and I use them for travelling because the necks suit me and they were not expensive.

icuker · #4 09-24-2021, 04:11 AM

My wife bought an old Savon Classical guitar. It's all laminate and so doesn't have the greatest sound but I love the neck on it and play it often as a result. It's sized a little under the typical 2 inches for width which makes it a crossover guitar. It's actually Brazilian made, so it is probably intended to be a beginners flamenco style guitar. It's one I'd hate to part with.

musicman1951 · #5 09-24-2021, 05:23 AM

Put a nice pickup in it and use a preamp, you can dial in a very acceptable sound.

Eric Greno · #6 09-24-2021, 05:34 AM

I have an old Alvarez that my parents gave me for Christmas in probably 1990. The sound of that guitar doesn't touch anything I have currently, but the neck just fits like old shoes.

Dru Edwards · #7 09-24-2021, 06:42 AM

It depends. I'd keep it as a beater/loaner guitar if I could but if budget was an issue I'd move on to another guitar that played just as great but also sounded better.

mawmow · #8 09-24-2021, 07:32 AM

Tone and overal playability are my only criteria :
I do not mind about body color and neck shape.
I never kept a guitar I would not play anymore.

ljguitar · #9 09-24-2021, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotveryGood

…Would you keep a cheap guitar because of the playability?

Hi NG…

I specifically bought a VoyageAir VAOM-06 because of the neck profile. It is very similar to the neck profile of my main guitar.

They are not cheap, but they are inexpensive compared to my main three guitars. It cost the same as a basic Taylor GS mini (with it's skinny-mini neck).

We traveled in an RV for 15 years…not a bus style, but a small 27 footer. And our trips averaged between 6-8 weeks. We didn't have room to carry full-sized guitars along.

I went through a series of small guitars looking for a 'practice' guitar.

Most of the small guitars had small necks, so I wasn't really practicing. They went to new homes.

The neck profile of a VoyageAir OM is so close to my main guitar that it was indeed (still is) a practice guitar. It is full scale (25.4") and a medium shallow C profile & 1¾" nut.

And it folds up…is stored in it's backpack, and fits into corners.

It also fits in the overhead bin of an airliner.

bobster7 · #10 09-24-2021, 07:53 AM

You need to get a better all solid sigma! Then you will have that great neck shape, tone and still have a ‘beater’. The neck on mine is unique and very different to all my other acoustics.

Steve DeRosa · #11 09-24-2021, 08:21 AM

Absolutely - if I'm going to be playing a "campfire" guitar for hours I want it to be as comfortable as possible...

The Bard Rocks · #12 09-24-2021, 08:31 AM

No,, I have to like it for other reasons. I can get along with any number of necks (but not just any neck).

Jim Comeaux · #13 09-24-2021, 09:33 AM

No, I would not. I would only keep a guitar, cheap, expensive or free because it SOUNDS good.

Goat Mick · #14 09-24-2021, 09:48 AM

I don't have any problem at all hanging on to a cheap guitar, but I have to like the sound as much as the feel. A great feeling neck is fine, but if it doesn't sound good then I'm not going to reach for it. And I have had some great sounding cheap guitars, so I know it's possible.

LakewoodM32Fan · #15 09-24-2021, 09:56 AM

Speaking to OP's situation, where he said it doesn't provide good tone, and sounds dull, my answer would be no. I don't care how playable the neck (or guitar) is, if it doesn't provide a pleasing tone to me, it goes.

That said if you audition enough I guarantee somewhere out there is an expensive guitar with just as playable (or better) of a neck that would provide you good tone. The trick is having the time (and a bit of luck) in finding it.

Bottom line, cheap or expensive, playable neck or not, if a guitar doesn't give me a tone that makes me smile and want to pick it up, it moves on.